Comments on: AT&T mistakenly announces free Wi-Fi for iPhone users...again

Someone on AT&T's product marketing team must be trigger happy as the company once again mistakenly publishes a notice about free Wi-Fi access for iPhone users.

[oigres73]

Make that 16,400 wifi hot spots. Starbucks is closing 600 stores.

[Xtoo]

At $5 per coffee their overprice java is out. They better start reducing prices. They are another overpriced company.

[Perry_Clease]

"At $5 per coffee their overprice java is out. They better start reducing prices. They are another overpriced company."

Starbucks offers cups of brewed coffee at prices much less than $5 per.

[gmhead]

Yawn. A big company makes a mistake. Gee, that's never happened before and you are soooo inconvenienced. "One of the worst companies in the world" - like Halliburton or Enron or take-your-pick-of-any-petrol-company. As for supply issues - talk to Apple about that (oh yeah, right - they're an evil company too!).

My favorite comment is from "harpnet": "AT&T has been consistently dishonest and deceptive with their customers for as long as I can remember. They are no different now. They are just being consistent. I quit doing business with them long ago, but now don't have any choice because Steve Jobs made an exclusive deal with them. I am sorry that Apple stooped down to their level to get into the phone business. "

Yes, you do have a choice - you don't HAVE to have the iPhone. You won't die without one.

You guys must all work for the public sector the way you whine about this s***. Lotsa competency there - just ask the City and County of San Francisco

[howclever]

Free wi-fi had me considering purchasing an iPhone, it was another checkmark in the iPhone's favor. But it's this type of idiocy from AT&T, along with the rate plans, that keep me from buying one.

Thanks for the reminder AT&T!

[Have-A-Nice-Day]

In the 1960's people physically were required to leave there home and join others in a group to support a cause. Today, there is a blog or a comments section- which just exists for a day and is stored on some disk array never to be seen again. the only course of objection that truly exist is non-payment to the corporations. However, the majority of people cannot see this a a reasonable method. The majority of people are afraid their credit would be attacked or service would be interrupted. Although, the simple aspect of what makes the company have the power to "slap" us in the face is that we give them the power by not standing up as a whole for our right when we are wronged. It is part of humanities culture. Although there has been numerous cases where people just continued to do what they are told even though they knew it to be wrong. So for that -- you cannot place blame on AT&T. Instead blame yourself for being a weak and unorganized group of "self-absorbed" whiners. Furthermore, do not cower in the corner and simply complain when the large company 'slaps' you and laughs about it at lunchtime

[Slacker25]

You can receive free WI-Fi hotshots, if you subscribe to AT&T DSL. I thing they are trying to boost DSL sales and iPhone sales at the same time. I have both the iPhone and DSL, so just login at StarBucks or any WiFi hotshot using my email address and password.

[ToddWBeaver]

I got so much better service before the company became AT&T. Cingular, where are you?

[asher100]

All the decent Cingular employees (and there were actually some good ones) left or were pushed out when we had to place AT&T Wireless executives into positions that they were not qualified to lead but it was part of the agreement. OH yeah, then add in the "SBC" takeover of BLS and all the high level non-wireless experience BLS telco executives come into the "new AT&T Mobility" and destroy Cingular even further.

[mscontrarian]

I'm so (#*%$^ fed up with AT&T... I'm just counting the days until T-Mobile officially announces it's launching the first Google Android device... Two companies that at least care about their customers. I mean, AT&T has sucked for so long, they shouldn't even have the priviledge of selling an Apple product...

I hope Google shuts them all up by telling AT&T where to stick it. I got that @Home service from T-Mo using my account with them (have two phones and accounts with both companies) and it is amazing!! Can't wait to go all-Google...

[AttLies]

This is why there are websites like ATTlies.com!

[Galaxy5]

Does this constitute a "materially averse change" to ATT's contracts with customers? If so, that means millions of iPhone customers are off the hook for their two-year contracts.

ATT should do the right thing here and provide what they've promised (twice). I've been paying them for cellular service for five years, and not only did they screw up my eligibility timing for the iPhone (and forced me to lend them $200.00 for several months in the form of a bill credit) free WiFi is the least they could do after they caved in and let the government spy on citizens without a warrant. Maybe they're delaying the service until they figure out a way to make sure the information all goes through the NSA first.

[iPhoneUser]

Have-A-Nice-Day is spot-on with his comments. All we consumers do these days is get on some worthless blog and complain about politics, gas prices, blah blah blah. What's going to be the straw that breaks our collective backs and gets us all to unite together? I would bet that if 2 million AT&T customers just stopped sending in payments, maybe they'd listen. But of course, no one has the juevos to stand strong.

Frankly, I'm sick of corporations nickle-and-diming us to death. We now have to pay to get our bags checked at airports (after paying upwards of $500 for a ticket). Absurd. Wi-Fi cannot cost enough money to justify ripping the customer for $10/month. It just can't. Not when I'm already paying $20/month for crappy EDGE service, or $35/month for 3G service that 'may or may not be available in your area'. Certain cities are offering up free Wi-Fi (Auburn Hills in Michigan for one)...why can't these clowns?? But I guess all I've done is complain on a worthless blog...let's get together and make our voices heard people!!!!!!! No one from AT&T or any other corporation reads these things with any seriousness....

[shagless--2008]

Not a mistake, just another stupid tactic. iPhone users pay a premium, they should for once in their corporate lives realize, if you want to pull in customers, this is a great way to do it. Not costing them anything from something they already have in place. Not new infrastructure. Just put up the announcement, say sorry we are bending you over, but here is a little carrot to keep you wanting to take a chance with us.

[hawkeyeaz1]

Sounds like the FCC would love to entertain a "false advertizing" suite on this one.

[JustinDripDrop]

Sounds to me like its about time for AT&T to be SUED.

JT
www.Ultimate-Anonymity.com

[chris3896]

so you're telling me they basically lied to all the customers. it seems something like that would be a selling point that oh wait... is announced two weeks after the release that the information itself is not true. well good thing i have already pre-ordered the iphone for the next batch which the people at at&t told me would be there in a week. oh surprise...they didnt tell me they were just signing me up for the next batch that would be released which going on a two weeks now...isnt here yet.

[SL1MSHAD1]

I had planned to purchase an IPHONE 3G but in the words of De Niro decided to "Just Walk Away." $199.00 is not a good price if I have to bind myself over to AT and T for two years. There are two service options with these guys: apathetic and dismissive. The phone has desirable features but I'm just not into pain.

[awaybbl]

In defense of AT&T, perhaps the free wi-fi deal just isn't quite ready. Obviously they have a plan to introduce it at some point, perhaps as a larger free wi-fi campaign for all it's smartphones, and they need to wait till all the various devices play well.

[theGEEKreports-Tobeus]

Of course, it may also be an upset employee; a practical joke by an employee; a hack... Who knows.

[johnnydfred]

Pump and Dump, baby. Pump and Dump.

[partytildawn-20159620461052270]

Having happened more than once within 6 months, doesn't this constitute false advertising under both federal law and various state laws? Couldn't an enterprising iPhone customer file a class-action lawsuit on behalf of all iPhone customers against AT&T for damages?

[for_africa]

In Africa, more information from

www.geitic.t35.com

[theGEEKreports-Tobeus]

What I would expect to see from AT&T is that you can use the wifi for free, but every time you connect, it extends your iPhone contract with them. If you do not connect at least once every thirty days, your iPhone will need to be re-activated, which is also a contract extension. By the way, if you already own an iPhone, you will have to pay a small upgrade fee to get the free wireless access. All of these would have asterisks next to them and have sixteen pages of legal garbage that cover other aspects of living with AT&T. Ahh, I love our modern world.